Arnie Returns For “Legend of Conan”

It would appear Jason Momoa is out and Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in as Universal Pictures has done a deal with Paradox Entertainment to bring the original Conan actor back to the character in “The Legend Of Conan” reports Deadline.

Universal has worldwide rights and released the first film, the movie that launched Schwarzenegger’s film career back in 1982. The studio reportedly wants this out fast with a Summer 2014 release date already set.

This isn’t a reboot or reimagination of Robert E. Howard’s mythology like last year’s “Conan” starring Momoa. It also apparently ignores the events in the 1984 sequel “Conan the Destroyer”. Instead it’s a direct sequel to John Milius’ original “Conan the Barbarian,” one that takes the thirty years that have passed into account in the storyline.

“The original ended with Arnold on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and this is the take of the film we will make,” says producer Fredrik Malmberg. “it’s that Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary, and who has bedded more women than anyone, nearing the last cycle of his life. He knows he’ll be going to Valhalla, and wants to go out with a good battle.”

Chris Morgan (“Fast Five,” “Wanted”) has created the story and nicknames it “Conan’s Unforgiven.” He could be writing the script depending upon his scheduling as he also has to shortly pen a script for a possible seventh “Fast and Furious” film to follow the currently shooting sixth one. Morgan will also produce.

They’ve presently yet to figure out whether the film will be R-rated like the original, but they very much intend to keep the darker and more brutal elements depicting the hardship of the original’s setting.

Speaking of Schwarzenegger, the first photo of the actor in David Ayer’s “Breacher” (aka. “Ten”) has been tweeted.

The “And Then There Were None”-inspired story centers on an elite DEA task force who rob a drug cartel safe house, after which each member of the team starts getting taken down one by one. Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Joe Manganiello, Dawn Olivieri, Malin Akerman, Olivia Williams, Mirielle Enos and Josh Holloway also star.